Vol. VIII. 



1909 



] Jackson, In the Barron River Valley, N.Q. 237 



with the same kind of leaves, when I found that, placed right 

 side up, they soon curled out of shape and symmetry, whilst 

 those which were reversed, in spite of extreme heat, remained 

 flat for some time. Some ornithologists have thought the 

 disposing of the leaves in this fashion to be due to an aisthetic 

 preference on the bird's part for the softer colour of the under 

 side of the leaf. This, of course, may be the case, but the other 

 theory seems more feasible. 



I followed the cedar track for a few miles past Lake Eacham, 

 striking off into the dense scrub whenever I heard the now 

 familiar note of the Tooth-bill, with the result that I discovered 

 more play-grounds, each similarly placed, cleared, and decorated 

 with leaves. These leaves, I was later on informed by Mr. J. H. 

 Maiden, F.L.S., Government Botanist of New South Wales, 

 belong to a scrub tree which is known as Litsea dealbata. 

 Some of the play-grounds contained a much larger number of 

 leaves — one, in fact, showing a total of 37 — and in every 

 instance save one the leaves were upside down, the solitary 

 exception proving the rule, and being probably due to the bird 

 being disturbed at its task, or even, perhaps, to a disturbing 

 current of wind. It was also markedly notable in every case 

 that only one bird was to be seen at each play-ground, and that 

 on catching sight of the disturber of its solitude it would become 

 silent, stretch out its neck, take a reconnaissance, and then flit 

 swiftly away. It would generally return from 20 to 30 minutes 

 after I had left, and appeared as mysteriously and silently as in 

 many cases it had disappeared. I may mention that the play- 

 ground containing the 37 leaves measured no less than 26 feet 

 in circumference. 



I never saw the birds perched in the trees, though of course in 

 such dense foliage they might be there without being visible ; 

 still the fact remains that I never heard their note that day any- 

 where save at their play-grounds. It is also strange that these 

 grounds are apparently frequented by only one bird, which will 

 sit all day in seemingly self-satisfied contemplation of its 

 artistic arrangements, and enlivening the solitude with a babble 

 of harsh and unmusical sounds, with an occasional clear and 

 beautiful reproduction of the notes of other scrub-birds ; but 

 each performance would be wound up with the recurrent and 

 loud ''chuck" which seemed to be a sort of "amen" to the 

 whole affair. I have arrived at the opinion that the Tooth- 

 billed Bower-Bird has in every instance its own especial ground, 

 to which it can resort for play, or from which its call for a mate 

 can be heard in insistent repetition ; for, be it noted, these places 

 are more numerous early in October, and just prior to what 

 would be the breeding season, as I presume the birds pair and 

 lay in November and December. ' 



I noticed that the scrub was also frequented by the noisy 



